Sersalisia sericea, also known as wild prune, mangarr, and mongo is a species of shrubs or small trees, of the plant family Sapotaceae They grow naturally in monsoon forest, littoral rainforest, and occasionally in more open forest types across Northern Australia.[1][2]
Sersalisia sericea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Sapotaceae |
Genus: | Sersalisia |
Species: | S. sericea
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Binomial name | |
Sersalisia sericea (Aiton) R.Br.
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Synonyms | |
Pouteria sericea |
Sersalisia sericea grows to 6 metres tall, although it may produce fruit as a shrub of 1 metre. The plant is characterised by the densely, rusty brown hairs that cover the buds and young leaves. Clusters of small green-white flowers are followed by succulent, dark purple fruit, containing one or occasionally two seeds. The fruit are succulent and edible.[3]
The Kunwinjku people of Western Arnhem Land call the plant and fruit "mandangnud".[4] As well as being a bush food, the seeds are occasionally used in seed jewellery for sale to tourists in the region.
References
edit- ^ "Sersalisia sericea (Aiton) R.Br". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Sersalisia sericea". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ Simpson, Donald. "Sersalisia sericea". Some Magnetic Island Plants. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ^ Garde, Murray. "mandangnud". Bininj Kunwok Online Dictionary. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre. Retrieved 5 Nov 2021.